What is the Acts of John?

Answer

The Acts of John is a text that claims to document the adventures of the apostle John during the years between Jesus’ ministry and John’s own death. It should not be mistaken for the Apocryphon of John, a distinct work, even though both books were categorically denounced as heresy by the early Christian church. Similar to the other Apocryphal Acts, the Acts of John includes strong Gnostic elements, incredibly sensational miracles, and vivid details.

The Acts of John was likely composed in the late second or early third century, but today it only survives in fragments and citations from other authors. Most of those who referenced the Acts of John did so to criticize it. The surviving text seems to lack a significant introduction. This introduction may have contained a statement of authorship; the text is presented from the viewpoint of an individual traveling with John. Some ancient sources suggest that the complete original version of the Acts of John was as lengthy as the entire Gospel of Matthew.

Gnosticism strongly influences the Acts of John, both in its content and its characters. The material world is portrayed as inherently malevolent. Towards the end of the book, John willingly lies down in his own grave, prepared to discard a physical form he deems as “filthy madness.” Sexuality, even within marriage, is denounced, and complete celibacy is upheld as an ideal.

Docetism, a heretical belief asserting that Jesus’ physical form was merely an illusion, is also evident in the Acts of John. The text alleges that Jesus never slept, never ate, did not leave footprints when He walked, and only appeared on the cross as an illusion. Much of this information is claimed to have been privately and specifically disclosed to John by Christ—hidden knowledge is also a central theme in Gnostic spirituality.

Similar to many of the other Apocryphal Acts, the Acts of John is brimming with extravagant, exaggerated miracles. In one instance, John commands bothersome bedbugs to vacate his mattress, and the

Insects are later seen patiently waiting for his permission to return.

In another episode, John clashes with a priest and worshipers who attack him for wearing the wrong color clothing. John threatens to have God kill his attackers unless they can convince their deity to kill John first. When the people react in fear, John instead prays that the Temple of Artemis would collapse, which it does, killing the priest. This man is later resurrected and becomes a Christian. This is an especially puzzling inclusion, since the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was still standing at the time the Acts of John was written and stood until several decades later when it was destroyed by invaders.

In an especially lurid story, John is present for no less than three resurrections in a short span. According to the Acts of John, a woman dies out of grief that her amazing beauty is tempting others. Afterwards, a man breaks into her tomb, along with an accomplice, in order to have his way with her corpse. The accomplice is killed by a snake, which then constricts the man. John arrives and resurrects the woman. He brings the man back from the dead merely to ask him questions. The woman is then given the power—and the option—of resurrecting the accomplice, which she does. Unfortunately, that man is unrepentant and soon dies because he still has snake venom in his blood.

Such stories are common in Gnostic and heretical works. As presented in the actual Word of God, true miracles are exceedingly rare, communicate a specific message or purpose of God, and are often subtle. In works like the Acts of John, miracles are treated as the product of magical powers wielded by apostolic superheroes.

The combination of late writing, ridiculous content, and open heresy all contributed to the rejection of the Acts of John by the early church. Because of its flaws, the text is not especially useful for historical study. Its sole value is in demonstrating the claims and characteristics of Gnostic and Docetic thinking.

The teachings of the second and third centuries.